Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Thomas Meikle, known as Tom, was born on 26 May 1890 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of Alexander Meikle and his first wife, Jane Davidson née McBain. After Jane’s death in 1897, Alexander married Jessie Douglas McCallum, in 1901 at Duntroon, Argyle, Scotland. Alexander, Jane and their two children (Elizabeth, 2 years old, Thomas, 10 months old) were at West Calder, Midlothian in 1891, Alexander a joiner. On 21 September 1904, the Meikle family departed from England for Wellington, New Zealand, per the “Corinthic” – Alex, joiner, 45 years; Mrs, wife, 37 years; Eliz, daughter, 15 years; Thos, son, 14 years; Jeannie, daughter, 11 years; Lindsay, son, 2 years. The three eldest children were children of Alexander and his first wife, young Alexander Lindsay a son of Alexander and his second wife. They possibly went firstly to North Otago where Alexander’s older brother John and family had been for some twenty years. A son – Albert John Meikle – was born to Alexander and Jessie in February 1906 at Herbert, North Otago. By 1911, alexander, Jessie, Elizabeth and Thomas were residing in Timaru. Was Thomas the T. Meikle who featured in Association football teams in Timaru in 1905, 1906, and again in 1910-1911? Or in athletics in 1909-1910? Thomas Meikle was one of the successful candidates who secured certificates at the examinations conducted at the close of the Timaru Technical School in 1909, his being for building construction, second-class. Thomas followed his father into carpentry.

On 13 February 1913 at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court, twenty-two offenders under the Defence Act were called, the charges being for failing to render personal service. Thomas Meikle did not appear. It was stated that he had attended two evening drills out of 18. He had attended twice since the summons was issued. Tom’s older sister, Bessie, married in March 1913 at the family’s Church Street West home. Her sister was a bridesmaid and Mr T. Meikle was the best man. Thomas Meikle was still listed at home in Timaru in 1914. Thomas Meikle and his friend Thomas Gledhill who were well known in Timaru before the war broke out, were in Australia when war was declared. They enlisted together and were to be continually together up to the time they would be wounded in October 1917 after seeing a good deal of fighting.

On 25 January 1916 at Casula, New South Wales, Thomas Meikle signed up with the Australian Forces to serve in World War One. He was a carpenter, having served an apprenticeship with Hall & Sons, Timaru, NZ, 25 years 8 months old, single and Presbyterian. He named his father as next-of-kin – Mr A. Meikle, Church St West, Timaru, NZ. Thomas Meikle swore that “I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from this day [29 August 1914] until the end of the War, and a further period of four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed, or removed therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and cause His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law.” He had been medically examined on 4 January 1916. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 9 stone 5 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 37 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes blue and his hair brown. He had good sight; he was free of diseases and physical defects; his heart and lungs were healthy; he had free use of his joints and limbs; and he was not subject to fits.

On 9 March 1916, Driver Thomas Meikle joined the Engineers, 13 Battalion. Driver T. Meikle embarked with the Engineers Reinforcements at Sydney on 30 September 1916 per the “Aeneas” and disembarked at Plymouth on 19 November, marching into No. 3 Camp Parkhouse the next day, then marching out to Christchurch, England on 21 December 1916. Having proceeded overseas to France from Folkstone on 4 March 1917, he marched in at Etaples six days later. Taken on Strength there from the Australian General Base Depot on 14 April, he marched out to the 15th Field Company 5th Division Engineers in the Field.

In November 1917, it was reported that T. Meikle, 14970, who was with the Australian Forces, had been wounded. He had been wounded in action on 27 October. Having suffered a gunshot wound in his left hip and left arm, he was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, then transferred to No. 32 Ambulance Train the next day. Driver Meikle embarked for England per the Hospital Ship “Princess Elizabeth” on 4 November and was admitted to the Military Hospital at Boscombe the next day. His actual condition was not stated. In December, Mr A. Meikle, of Church Street West, received word that his son, Private Tom Meikle, had been admitted to Boscombe Military Hospital, suffering from gunshot wounds in the left arm. He was transferred to the 3rd Australian Hospital at Dartford on 22 November 1917. After furlough from 27 November 1917 to 11 December 1917, he marched in and reported to the Reinforcements Depot at Sutton Verry. Driver Meikle marched into the Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 20 December and marched out on 28 December.

He was admitted, sick, to No. 18 Hospital at Bulford on 25 April 1918, with VD, the diagnosis amended to scabies the next day. He was discharged a few days later. Driver T. Meikle proceeded overseas to France again from Southampton on 30 June 1918, marched in the next day, then marched out to his Unit on 3 July, joining the 15th Field Company in the Field on 8 July. Thomas Meikle was appointed Lance Corporal on 18 November 1918. Granted leave to Paris on 23 December 1918, he rejoined on 5 January 1919 and was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal on 24 January. He was granted leave from France to the UK, from 22 February 1919 to 8 March. Having been promoted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant on 19 February, he reverted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 1 April 1919 and marched out for return to Australia, proceeding to England from Havre on 9 April, arriving at Southampton the next day and marching in at Weymouth on 15 April. Lance Corporal Thomas Meikle, 15th Field Company, Engineers, embarked for the return to Australia per the “Friedrickruh” on 8 July 1919, disembarking on 4 September. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

In November 1924, Base Records, Australia, received correspondence from Mr John Mackle, Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland, who was enquiring about the whereabouts of his brother, Thomas Mackle or Meikle. The family who had had no word or news of him for 15 years, had been informed that he was in the A.I.F. Communication from a Mrs Charles Taylor, Victoria, who was presumed to be a sister of the enquirer, was forwarded with regard t Thomas Meikle, 14970, whose details had been provided. Mrs Charles Tayloy had also enquired about her brother Thomas Mackle. The last known address of Thomas Meikle, 14970, was forwarded – Mr Thomas Meikle, c/o Mr A. Meikle, Church Street, West, Timaru, New Zealand – on the assumption he was identical with the person sought. But there were significant details which did not match (next-of-kin; age at enlistment). The man sought was probably Thomas Meikle who enlisted in 1918, a jockey born at Shettleston in 1889, his mother Susan Meikle, Shettleston (next-of-kin) and his father deceased.

Thomas had, in fact, returned to the family home in Timaru by the early 1920s, resuming his occupation as a motor body builder. His friend Thomas Gledhill was also back in Timaru. As of 12 December 1921, Messrs Gledhill and Meikle, “experts in motor body building, renovators and repairers of motor bodies,” had commenced business in Cain’s Terrace, Timaru. “They have secured suitable roomy premises for housing the different departments, occupying as they do, Bockaerts’ large original garage. The buildings have been divided into an office, motor stand, and workshops, and have been fitted up with the latest appliances for the trade: band saws, drilling machines, emery wheels, metal workers’ and wood workers’ tools, motor body fittings of all kinds, and an oxy-acetone welding plant. Both partners hail from Timaru, although they spent the last ten years in large centres obtaining efficiency in their art and acquaintance with the latest methods in the industry. . . . . . . . Mr Gledliill, who is a metal working specialist, has had extensive experience in Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin. He was engaged for quite a time in Propert’s magnificent motor body building business in Sydney, and completed his experience at the Belsize Motor works in the Old Land. Under his direction metal bodies will be given a jointless finish, every part of the metal used in the panels being oxy-acetone welded. Mr Meikle has also worked with some of the largest houses in New Zealand in his special line, which is woodwork, completed his experience in Sydney, and added to it later by a term with one of the largest woodworking firms for motor bodies in the Southern Hemisphere, situated Melbourne. The partners intend to give the highest satisfaction obtained by the trade in New Zealand, and will build bodies of latest design and pattern or to any specification from limousines to runabouts.”

In April 1922, Tom enrolled with the Y.M.C.A. after they held a membership drive. At the Timaru Show in October 1922, there was a magnificent display in the motor car department. The reporter asked the watchful manager of the Adams Ltd business (Studebaker), if the body finished in magnificent pale auto-grey came out of the case undamaged after the long transit from the factory. “Not so,” was the reply. “That body is of New Zealand manufacture — in fact was made in Timaru and turned out by two Timaru boys, Messrs Gledhill and Meikle, in their own factory in Cain’s Terrace. I am not here to throw bouquets at people, but I must say that the body, as a sample of workmanship, is equal to the best importation. In fact I have never seen better work come out of any case from overseas. The body has just the right contour, graceful lines and artistic sweeps, and one can see that' the car is one that any man could be proud of.” They also built the body of a very attractive roadster shown at Waimate in November 1922.

Tommy Meikle also got back into soccer at Timaru, playing a strong, bustling game at centre for Rovers in April 1923. In the match at the beginning of May the opposing half-back “had Tommy Meikle to keep an eye on too!” The following week “Tommy Meikle was the life of the attack”. He was scoring goals at a good rate. Gledhill also played for Rovers, presumably Thomas. Exhibited in Messrs Adams Ltd showroom in May 1923 was “a light six colonial body built by Messrs Gledhill and Meikle, painted in dark blue, and with gold lines, ready in superb finish and beautiful contours to compare more than favourably with any imported body.” When a Pipe Band was formed in Timaru in June 1923, T. Meikle joined up. Adams Ltd had a Studebaker display at the Show again in October 1923. “The firm are importing year by year a greater number of chassis without the bodies, on the lines of encouraging local industry, local in this case meaning Timaru industry, for there is showing immediately behind the chassis before mentioned a 3-seater body mounted on a light six chassis, the body being turned out by Messrs Gledlhill and Meikle, motor body builders, Hayes Street, Timaru. This car is finished . . . . . . It also speaks for the local patriotism of the firm and directly proves that another industry has been established in Timaru for all time.”

After just over two years in business in Timaru, Messrs Gledhill and Meikle found it necessary, through expansion of business, to remove to more up-to-date and spacious premises in Hayes Street, near the Harbour Board’s office. “Highest grade workmanship, and complete satisfaction, have been the chief factors in building up their present enviable reputation, and everywhere the work they have turned out is admired, and will compare more than favourably with the imported article. . . . . . . . Apart from the body-building side of the business, they also do all kinds of upholstering, repairs, and recovering of hoods. As a further illustration of the progressiveness of the partners, they have obtained the agency of the Premier Weather Shield and Glare Vizor, which . . . . . Another agency the firm have is the Marquette luggage carrier, which is an ideal carrier as it forms a safe roomy place on the running board for bags and luggage, which . . . .” By June 1924, T. Meikle was into golf, returning the best score in the third-grade bogey handicap played at the Timaru Club. In November of that year, Mr Thomas Meikle carried out the duties of best man at the wedding of his friend and business partner Mr Thomas Gledhill. A luxurious limousine had been acquired in December 1924 for sight-seeing trips from Timaru. “To ensure all possible comfort for passengers, instead of the ordinary commercial model for lorry work, a specially chassis with car springs was imported and placed in the hands of Messrs Gledlhill and Meikle, whose fame as car body builders has already spread to other centres, and the result of their workmanship was apparent in the interested glances that followed the car as it moved silently through the town. The vehicle, which seats 21, has . . . . . . From the workmanship that has been put into the. char-a-banc it can be very fittingly described as a limousine de luxe, and it reflects great credit upon the builders, Messrs Gledhill and Meikle, who have convincingly proved that Timaru can very successfully compete with the best of English.”

Thomas was still in Timaru in March 1926 when he was announced as the winner of the Lindsay Medal (Gold) during the past season of the Timaru Golf Club. By mid-July 1927, Gledhill and Meikle had given up business and were selling a Ford motorcar which was in tiptop order with a beautifully built body. So, in late 1928 or early 1929, Thomas returned to Australia. Tom Meikle married Lillian May McDonnell in 1929 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. They lived at first in New South Wales, then after a spell at Timaru in the later 1930s, they went to Victoria, Australia, Thomas using the name ‘Thomas Jackson Meikle’ thereafter. He continued his trade as a motor body builder and was also a service station manager and a tobacconist.

Come 15 August 1941 and Thomas Meikle enlisted at Royal Park, Shepparton for Home Service in World War One. He was now 51 years 3 months old, married no children and, while his normal occupation was a motor body builder, he was currently a tobacconist. His next-of-kin was his wife – Lilian May Meikle, 266 Wyndham St, Shepparton, that being also his address. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a fair complexion and grey eyes and hair. He had a scar on his left hip. Though taken on Strength, he was granted leave without pay from 16 August 1941 to 22 August. On rejoining his Unit, he was transferred to Area Staff and was to be Corporal. Immediately following leave in December 1941, he was evacuated to the Base Hospital. He had sick leave from 22 August 1942 to 26 August. Thomas was granted leave without pay from 7 January 1943 to 4 February 1943. On 22 August 1944, he was medically classified BII on account of age. He was still serving with his Unit on 7 January 1945 and again on 6 July 1945. He was discharged on 18 October 1945 in Victoria.

The Australian Repatriation Department received notice dated 29 September 1961 that Thomas Meikle, 14970, Driver, 15th Field Company Engineers had made application for benefits under Repatriation Act. His full service and medical documents were requested. Thomas and Lillian appear to have moved to Queensland in the mid-1960s. Lillian May Meikle died on 19 October 1967 in Queensland. In 1968 and 1972, Thomas was at Labrador, Queensland. Thomas Jackson Meikle died in Queensland on 19 April 1975, aged 84 years. He may have been cremated, his ashes interred in the Queensland Garden of Remembrance, Brisbane. A plaque with services insignia marks his grave. His next-of-kin at death was his niece – Mrs J. Ball, 92 Poplar Street, Gleniti, New Zealand. This was Jean Lindsay Ball (née Horwell), the daughter of Thomas’ older sister Elizabeth McBain Meikle. She confirmed particulars of her uncle Thomas Meikle for the Office of Australian War Graves.

Thomas’ parents lived in Timaru until their deaths – Alexander in September 1943 and Jessie in June 1944. Both were interred privately at Timaru. A sad fate befell Alexander Lindsay Meikle, the second son of Alexander and of his second wife Jessie. Alexander (junior) was born in 1902 at West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland and came with the family to New Zealand in 1904. Alexander Lindsay and his younger New Zealand born brother Albert John Meikle were educated at Timaru Main School. Alexander married Millicent Muriel Austin in 1925. They had three children before separating in 1930 and divorcing in 1936. On 5 January 1940 Alexander Lindsay Meikle enlisted at Timaru for the New Zealand Special Force. He named his older sister as next-of-kin – Mrs E. Horwell, Orbell Street, Timaru. This was Elizabeth McBain Meikle, the eldest of the family. Private A. L. Meikle embarked with the Machine Gun Battalion of the Second Expeditionary Force. On 9 September 1940, his parents received a letter written by him on 30 June, giving an interesting account of the voyage from New Zealand to England. That same day they received cabled advice of his death. Alexander Lindsay Meiklehad been murdered (stabbed in the neck) in his sleep on 7 September 1940 by a fellow New Zealander at the 2NZEF camp at Maidstone, Kent. The offender had got drunk and fell out with Meikle after a dispute at a pub. The offender argued insanity. Private Meikle was buried at Maidstone Cemetery, Kent, England. James Meikle, a son of John Meikle and cousin of Thomas, served with the New Zealand Forces I World War One. David Ireland Meikle, who was the youngest brother of John and Alexander Meikle, and uncle of Thomas, had remained in his native Scotland as did his other siblings, and died of wounds in Belgium on 25 July 1917.

Sources

Attestation Paper for Australian Imperial Force (National Archives of Australia) [25 October 2016]; Mobilization Attestation Form for World War Two (National Archives of Australia) [02 December 2025]; Timaru Herald, 8 November 1909, 14 February 1913, 15 March 1913, 24 November 1917, 11 [& 24] December 1917, 13 December 1921, 7 April 1922, 27 October 1922, 17 November 1922, 18 & 27 April 1923, 2, 16, 19, & 25 May 1923, 13 & 27 June 1923, 25 October 1923, 16 January 1924, 2 February 1924, 23 June 1924, 19 November 1924, 24 December 1924, 17 March 1926, 14 & 23 July 1927, 10 & 11 September 1940, 14 & 24 October 1940, 18 November 1940, Otago Daily Times, 23 November 1917, NZ Herald, 11 October 1940 (Papers Past) [8 November 1913; 25 October 2016; 12 April 2020; 07 June 2022; 02 December 2025]; NZ & Australian Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2016; 2025]; Scotland Census return 1891 (ancestry.com.au) [2022; 02 December 2025]; Passenger Lists (ancestry.com.au) [2022; 02 December 2025]; Queensland Death registrations (qld.gov.au) [25 October 2016; 25 March 2022]; Queensland Garden of Remembrance plaque image & record (Find A Grave) [03 December 2025]

External Links

Related Documents

• MEIKLE Thomas - newspaper clippings (pdf, 115.9 KB updated 19-Dec-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS